The pattern is located on quilterscache.com. The link to the pattern is below this message. Another message will follow with a link to the Google docs pages and a photo of this month's sample block.

Here's how the monthly lotto works...

One to two weeks prior to the first of the lotto month, the block pattern and colors are posted on the forum.

You may enter from 1 to 3 blocks. For each block you send, your name will be entered once.

Please put your blocks, along with a slip of paper with your real name, address, and FORUM name, inside a plastic baggie. (A return address label inside or on the outside of baggie works well too.)

Please include one dollar (this covers all blocks sent, NOT $1/block) to cover postage for sending on to the winner.

We ask that everyone only send their best efforts! We are not looking for perfection, but please take your time, have fun, and send only the quality that you would like to receive.

Please note the following guidelines:

Use 100% QUILTING cotton and please - no fur, smoke or fragrances.

Selvage edges should be trimmed off before cutting for blocks and all seams should be 1/4 inch.

Your finished block should be squared up to be no less than 1/4 inch smaller nor 1/4 inch larger than the stated (unfinished) size for the month.

Blocks need to reach the lotto coordinator no later than the last day of the month.

The winner will be drawn that evening or on the first day of the following month and posted on the forum.

The winner may choose a block and/or colors for a future lotto that will be added to the list. If the winner opts to choose a block, a sample block must be received by the moderator by the end of the month prior to the posting date. For example, if you're choosing the March block, a sample must be received by the end of January. There is usually about a 3-4 month lead time between winning and the month's pattern posting, so you have lots of time to explore patterns and dream up color combinations!

Coordinator's Address:

Kay Barkdoll
12026 Punch Bowl Rd
Mercersburg, PA 17236

Sue/polardream

For our January block, we now have:

micryrey: 3
polardream: 3
carolnv: 1, but may try for 3
calliope: 1
kay: 1 done, hope to have time for 2 more, not sure

So our count is 9, but maybe more.

This is such a pretty color combination!

Kay

Kay

Robbi

micryrey: 3, received
polardream: 3, received
carolnv: 1, but may try for 3
calliope: 1
kay: 1
paulah_gardener: 2
lafonda_ranch: 2

That's 13 beautiful springtime blocks! And there's still time for more quilters to join in!

Kay

Since we don't do the kind of swap where we all pitch in and get the same fabric, I think all of our lotto blocks are going to be scrappy to an extent. And your same 3 yellows will be scattered among everyone else's yellows and blue combos, etc.

I think the occasional repeated fabric helps to tie the "scrappiness" together. I haven't seen any set of blocks come through that didn't end up just plain charming & delightful, whether certain colors are repeated or not!

Kay

I do have one question for everyone. The little triangle that are cut off, do most of you keep them for scraps? I'm just starting my scrap stash and wondering if these are useful pieces or are they too small?

BTW, I loved how this block went together. Very nice!

Robbi

I'm stacking them all in a plastic drawer after I press them open. I just started this 3 or 4 months ago, and it's amazing how many "mini patches" I have already. I'm thinking along the lines of using them either for mini-quilts, or just doing a big jigsaw quilt, depending on how quickly they accumulate.

Robbi

It was just really starting to bother me not using those pieces that were matched in size for something. I do the same with the flying geese triangles, too... those "ears" you cut off putting squares on the corners of rectangles. Even the small ones I go ahead and sew back along the diagonal (after I check that it's the right size). On a lot of patterns, it feels that if you don't save these pieces, you're throwing away half your fabric! That's doubling the price of what you bought.

Thinking like a depression kid now (even though I'm one generation from that)... must save in case I need them later in life!

Kay

The first few times I tried to use this technique, I kept sewing one square on the wrong diagonal!

Anyway, several people might be having a problem with this, so I found a tutorial that shows the steps. If this doesn't help, Google "flying geese tutorial". Sometimes 2 people can be demonstrating exactly the same thing, and with one it clicks and with the other it doesn't.

Ignore the first picture, this lady is making a whole block of these. Just go to the second and look at the technique from there down the page.

Let me know if this helped.

Kay

It's almost time!!! This is such a lovely pattern & color combination.

I'll be abstaining from the drawing, so won't need help this month. I'll just put the number slips in a bowl & pick one. I'm waiting on the mail to see if any more arrive.

Kay

And the winner is.. ta-da... drum roll............

micyrey!!!!

Congratulations, Michelle!

There are pictures of all the blocks linked below.

I'll get these out to you tomorrow. Your month to choose a block will be July, with sample or picture by June 1, please.

To keep tabs on these, there is a chart on the google docs pages. March and April are posted there. May is Buteau3rd's choice.

There are links to prior patterns & colors to make sure you're not doing a repeat.

I look forward to seeing your pattern & color pick!

Kay, a BIG THANK YOU again! for all that you do! Creating all the links for photos & lists makes things so easy for all of us --- & we really appreciate it:)

Another BIG THAMK YOU, Kay!! Awesome job!!

Michelle, your blocks went into the mail this morning.

I will be sending in 3 blocks for feb but opting out of the drawing.

thanks
michelle